January 1, 2011

Vietnam's 2010 pangasius exports down at US$1.39 billion

Vietnam is projected to have earned US$1.39 billion from pangasius fish exports this year, stated the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP).

The revenues are still much lower than the country's full-year target of US$1.5 billion, the association said.

Pangasius fish remains the key seafood export item, accounting for 28.2% of the country's seafood exports. As many as 290 domestic seafood firms are engaging in exporting pangasius fish.

Exports of pangasius fish are predicted to fall to 360,000 tonnes next year from 640,000 tonnes this year, given a severe raw material shortage that could last until September.

Meanwhile, some import markets had erected technical barriers to control pangasius fish imports, hurting Vietnam seafood exporters.